For decades, politicians have come to the West Side Market to meet Clevelanders, court the Eastern European vote, taste local food and accept the occasional random gift. Shopping for votes in the market's aisles dates back at least to the '60s. Cleveland mayors Ralph Perk, Dennis Kucinich, George Voinovich, Mike White and Jane Campbell all campaigned there.

"Almost all the local ones came here, passing out badges and talking to people," recalls market veteran Robert W. Stumpf. "Where could they find a crowd like this?"

The market's political popularity peaked in 1980 when it became a regular stop for presidential challengers. Ronald Reagan visited in May, just before clinching the Republican nomination. Teddy Kennedy and John Anderson, also vying to unseat President Jimmy Carter, stopped by in July and September.

President Obama dropped by the market this Oct. 5 after a rally at Cleveland State University. At Czuchraj Meats, where a photo of McCain buying smokies hangs behind the counter, Obama sent a Secret Service agent back to the car for his forgotten wallet and bought $20 worth of smokies and jerky. "It was very exciting," says owner Jill Chucray. "How many times are you going to meet the president?"

Comments:

Sunday, November 04, 2012 2:51:58 PM by John Pilch, San Diego, CA

It's great to see my dad, John Pilch, in the background of the photo of President Reagan and his wife, Nancy. They visited the West Side Market when my father was the Commissioner of Markets, Weights & Measures for the City of Cleveland. He truly enjoyed the Market and the people who worked and visited there. Not included in the article is a photo of Pope John Paul II with my Dad, during the Pope's visit to the Market. Thank you Cleveland magazine for publishing this photo.